The sterile silence of the room felt oppressive. The only sounds in the room were the gentle buzz of the ventilator, the faint rustle of nurses' shoes on the linoleum floor, and the steady, soft beep of the heart monitor. Isabella sat beside her mother's bedside, staring down at her with her fingers holding the edge of the pristine white blanket. She refused to leave her side, even though her eyes were puffy from sobbing.Tatiana lay there, her face white, her features taut in what must have been slumber. The doctors had argued that the sedatives had been required. There was nothing they could do. Her body needed to be repaired because it had taken too much. Isabella, however, was aware of a problem. She wondered whether the silence was more sinister than any sound because she could feel it in her bones, the tremble in her chest."Mom?" Isabella's voice cracked like thin ice as she whispered.No one answered. Tatiana's lips were slightly parted, as if she were ensnared in the web of s

Victoria strode through the wide hallways of the Harrington building, the spotless floors shining beneath her heels. Each step was a purposeful piercing of the dense atmosphere of anxiety that had descended upon the building, and the light click of her shoes reverberated in the still room. She was on the verge of making history; she would soon win the Senate election, which would be her greatest accomplishment and secure her permanent position in politics.But she had more in mind than merely winning. It was the leverage, the power, the total control that accompanied it.As she arrived at the end of the hallway, she fixed her gaze on the door in front of her, which had the words "Board Room" engraved in gold on its gleaming glass. The smell of leather and freshly brewed coffee, the faint murmur of discussion, the buzz of ambition, and everyone's attention were drawn to her as she walked in.Victoria had always felt comfortable in the boardroom, which was as elegant and luxurious as ev

Sharp and unsettling, the scream of metal reverberated through the penthouse's deserted hallways. Tatiana's palm shook a little as she clutched the trigger of the safe panel concealed in the marble wall, her eyes leaping to the rows of display screens that flickered before her. Once more, Benjamin escaped their grasp, vanishing like a ghost into smoke, leaving only the tumultuous video of a jail riot. She typed in the commands that would lock down the entire building while her fingers hovered over the buttons in a deliberate, methodical motion. The penthouse was now completely under lockdown when the sirens started to shriek, their sharp sound piercing the tension. She had anticipated this. Always be ready. With calculating dark eyes, Grayson-2 stepped forward and placed a heavy black bag full of explosives on the ground. The storm that was building in the pit of her stomach was a sharp contrast to the sirens' soft murmur. She was just as dangerous as Benjamin. She had also discover

Tension was in the air in the penthouse. Harrison's thoughts were racing with the ramifications of Victoria's request as he stood by the window, gazing out at the expansive metropolis below. Tonight, nothing seemed as dazzling as it used to, even if the city lights shimmered like a thousand tiny stars. His mind raced as he contemplated his next course of action, each one fraught with danger and creating a complex web of issues.Behind him, Victoria's presence weighed heavily on the space. Her eyes were waiting for his response, and he could feel them on his back. In his head, he could hear her telling him to choose wisely. Was that the right decision, though? Did it simply represent the lesser of two evils?"Well?" Victoria's silky, forceful voice cut through the quiet. "Are you going to answer me, Harrison?"His eyes were icy as he turned to look at her. "Are you certain that this is what we require? "Marriage for votes?"Victoria grinned, as though the concept was merely a business

Tatiana stood by herself in the penthouse, her gaze adrift and her breath short. The air appeared to be crushed out of her lungs by the weight of the deal and the ultimatum that hung between her and Benjamin. Now, Gabrielle was in charge of her life and the twins. She still had the twins to keep safe. What if, however, this was all a game? What if Benjamin had already decided what he was going to do before she did? What if the worst had already occurred by the time she got to Gabrielle? Her mind twisted in knots at the questions, but now doubt was out of the question—just action. She was startled out of her reverie when her phone vibrated. An unidentified number appeared on the screen. She paused only a moment before responding. The voice on the other line said, "Tatiana," and it was icy, strange, and yet all too familiar. "You've made your choice, haven't you?" Her blood froze. That voice was familiar to her. She exhaled, "Alexander…" with a tone of incredulity. After a moment